Electric signal switch



Dec. 1, 1925 J. O. CADIEUX ELECTRIC SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Jan. 10, 1925 2Sheets-Shee1; l

INVENTOR Dec. 1, 1925- J. O. CADIEUX ELECTRIC SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Jan.10,

1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR W a a a W v 7 7 v switches of the typeof my former Patent.

' June 28th, 1923, now Patent No. 1,527,026.

' and release device applicable as sell to push button switches. Mysecond invention reguide and auxiliary signal feature appli in certainfeatures of the invention as ap- 1,563,721 ENT' OFFICE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PAT JOSEPH O. CADIEUX, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO THE CONNECTICUT TELEPHONE & ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SWITCH.

Application filed January 10, 1 925. Sciml No. 1,536.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view-on the a plane ofthe-line 7-7 ofFig. 6 drawn on the scale of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the switch To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J OSEPH O. CAnInUx, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Meriden, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut,have invented a new and useful Electric Signal Switch, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invent-ion relatesto improvements in modification co 1,473,591 andthis application is a partial continuation of application No. 648,213filed All of these switches are intended particularly for use inannunciator or call systems catlon 648,213. such as are frequently usedin hospitals and The construction shownin' Fig. 1 is what the like. Myfirst invention was directed is sometimes called a .ward station whichto a pull type of switch and contains a catch has a plate 15 adapted tobe secured to the form of device has a local-signal light 16 which,however, is not'involved in the invention herein claimed. The switchproper has an insulating base 17 which is secured to the back of theface plate 15 by means of a U-shaped frame 18. A series of springcontact fingers such as 19, 20 and 21 are secured in grooves in theinsulating base 17 and provided with suitable binding posts or terminalssuch as 22, 23 and .24. Any number of these contact fingers may beemployed and a suitable signal devicev such as a; lamp. 25 will bearranged in circuit with eac 1. 0 a

-Embedded or secured in the insulating lated more particularly to a pushbutton type of switch but also embodies a central cable not only to pushbutton but to pull switches. My present invention is directed towardimprovements in the pull switch type of device embodying the auxiliarysignal mechanism and also simplified latching and releasing mechanism-This application also claims specifically one form of auxiliary switchmechanism divided out of said application No. 648,213. I have also shownhereplied to a push button switch embodying improvements in themechanism of my former application with an improved method of latchrelease.

Fig. l is a side view and partial section showing one form of myinvention as applied to a pull switch and showing the'parts in thenormal open circuit position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the parts inthe position they would occupy with the normal signal energizing circuitclosed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view and partial section showing the parts in theposition they occupy when sending an auxiliary, supplemental oremergency signal.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one form of the invention as embodied in a pushbutton type switch.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal'section and side view of the device of Fig. 5.

cuit terminal or binding screw 27 at the rear. The spring contact finger28v is similar to the other spring contact fingers and is secured in agroove in the insul'atin 17 in contact with a member 29 wh'ch isconnected with a plate 30 on theircnt of connection with a part of theguide pin 26. On top of the shank of the spring contact finger 28 butinsulated from it I securean auxiliary contact member 31 which isprovided with a circuit terminal or binding post 32. In circuit withthis member is the emergency buzzer or other auxiliary signal device 33.

' Mounted to slide on the guide pin 26 is an tact member 35 which may besecured on to the shank of the member 34. Behind the contact ring 35 isan insulating washer 36 wall or to an outlet box in the wall. Thismechanism of Fig. 6' with the parts in the block-is a central guide pin26 having a cirpied from my former applibase the base 17. This plate 30is in electrical insulating member 34 which carries a conwhich projectsoutwardly beyond the pe- 9 riphery of the contact ring so as to form ashoulder adapted to coact with parts of the spring contact fingers asshown in Fig. .4. This insulating washer may be held in place by a nut37. The sliding member 34 is provided with an operating stem 38 to whichis secured the pull chain 39 the chain being guided in the eyelet 40 inthe face plate 15. A spring 41 is interposed between the rear of theface plate and the cone 42 on the stem 38 so as to normally tend to pushthe stem 38 and the contact carrier rearwardly and yieldingly oppose theoperation of the chain 39. A sliding latch 43 is guided in the frame 18and adapted to engage the rear of the cone 42 when the cone is pulledforwardly. The latch 43 is normally pressed upwardly by a spring 44 sothat the lower inside edge of the latch is in the path of movement ofthe lower edge of the cone 42. When the cone is pulled forwardly itslower incline surface pushes down the latch and when the cone passesentirely through the latch the spring 44 pushes the latch up into theath' of movement of the cone 42 as shown in *ig. 2, so as to hold thecone and the'attached parts in-the forward position. In order to retractthe latch I rovide an arm 45 which engages the upper end of the latch asshown in Fig. 1. This arm projects through the face plate and isprovided with a finger piece 46 immediately above the chain 39. Thechain or cord thus provides a simple means for operating the switch andthe release finger piece 46 provides a convenient method of restoringthe switch to its normal open circuit position. It will be seen that thetwo operating members 39 and 46 are so different in construction and inoperation that there is no danger of accidentally releasing the latchwhen pulling the switch and vice versa, There is no danger of turnmg onthe switch when trying to release "it.

When the switch is pulled on. the parts occupy the position shown'inFig. 2 at which tlme we'can trace the circuit through. the lamp 25 tothe terminal 23, spring finger 20,

contact ring 35, spring finger 28, members 29 and 30, pin 26. circuitterminal 27 and the source of energy (not shown). When the switch hasbeen set in this position by the operator, presumably a patient in thehospital, the switch sta s set and the light or lights on. The switc issupposed to stay in this position until the. attendant comes to thestation and releases the switch by'pressing on the finger piece 46.

In case the pat1ent is particularly anxious ,to have immediate attentionor to especially attract the attention of the superintendent orattendant at whose station the buzzer or alarm device 33 is located itis simply necessary to pull a little harder on'the chain and draw "outthe contact slide to the position shown 1n Fig. 4 at which timetheshouldered washer 36 moves the spring contact ,7 guide pin 26 andcircuit terminal 27.

The construction is also so arranged that the insulating shoulder 36 canretract all of the spring fingers 28, 19, 20 and 21 from the contactring 35 at the same time so as to simultaneously open all the circuitswhich were established in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the partsare in the position shown in Fig.-. 2 it is therefore possible for thepatient by repeated pulling on the chain or operating cord to flash allthe signal lights thus making a special signal to attract the attentionat all of the stations where the signal lights are located. In fact itwill be noted that in the position of the contact member intermediatethe position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 all the lights will be out beforethe emergencyor buzzer signal is energized.

In the form; shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the insulated base, 50 carriesthe central guide pin 51 for the contact member and also spring contactfingers such as 52 and 53 and the auxiliary contact member 54. In thiscase the sliding member consists of an insulating portion 55, acontactring 56 and the shouldered insulating washer 57 intended toretract the contact fingers from the ring 56 and force the finger 53into engagement with 'the contact member 54. The member 58 electrically,connects the guide pin 51"and the contact finger 53. In this case thespring 59 isinterposed between the contact member and the base so as tonors mally push the contact member away from the base instead of towardit. The contact member is also provided with a push button 60 instead ofa pull cord or chain. The frame 61 is similar to the frame 18 only inthis case it is secured to the face plate 62 which has a flange 63 whichfits in the mouth of the tubular casing 64' and ,is secured in place byone or more screws 65. The latch member 66 is guided in'the frame 61 andnormally under the pressure of the spring 67 which holds it in positionwith .one end 68 in aslot 69 in one wallof the the cone 70 adapted tointerlock with the latch slide 66.

The circuit is closed through the switch by pressingon the button 60 andthe latch 66 thereupon automatically engages the shoulder of the cone 70and holds the switch in the closed circuit position unless the pushbutton 60 is pushed in a little further so as to retract the fingers 52and 53 from the contact ring 56 which of course would put out thelights. When the button 60 is pushed in a little further the auxiliarybuz- -zer or emergency circuit is completed through the contact member53. When the attendant wishes to release the switch and lease the latch.Nevertheless the device does not require any special key or tool forreleasing the latch since the operation may easily be performed by thetip of one finger pressed into the slot 69.

In the construction shown in Fig. 10 the emergency circuit is completed1 from the center contact pin 72 through the contact.73 in the end ofthe sliding member 74 thence through the spring 75 to the plate 76 andterminal 7 7 when the slide is pushed in until the contact 73 engagesthe end of the guide pin 7n.

In the construction shown in Fig. 11 the spring contact finger 80 has aprojection 81 at the rear electrically connected with the guide pin 82which serves as one circuit terminal. nected to the contact member 84:.The slide 85 on the pin 82 is adapted to engage a shoulder 86 on thecontact finger 80 and force the tip of the finger 80 into contact withthe member 84.

I claim:

1.. A signal switch comprising an insulating base, a guide pin extendingthrough said base, a binding screw in the rear end of said pin, acontact plunger slidable on the front. end of said pin, a bracket havingan arm extending along one side of said base and having another armextending along the front of said-base and contacting with said pin, anda spring arm contact secured outside of the side arm of said bracket andengaging said" contact plunger.

2. In a stVitclu-a base, a spring contact linger carried thereby, acenter terminal and guide electrically connected thereto, a reciprocableinsulating member having a contact member adapted to engage said springcontact finger and an insulating shoulder adapted to disengage saidfinger and a stationary contact adapted to be engaged by said finger.

3. In a switch, an insulating base, a plurality of contact fingers proecting therefrom, an insulating member slidable between said fingers, acontact member carried thereby to engage said contact fingers, anoperating member connected to said insulating member, an auxiliarycontact and means carried by said lnsulatmg member. for moving one ofsaid fingers away from said con- The'other circuit terminal 83 iscontact member and into contact with said auxiliary contact. I

4. In a switch, a base, a plurality of contact fingers projectingtherefrom, an insulating member slidable between said fingers, a contactmember carried thereby to engage said fingers, a face plate, anoperating members connected to said insulating member and guided in saidplate, an auxiliary contact adapted to be engaged. by one of saidcontact fingers, and means carried" by said insulating member for movingsaid latter finger away from said contact member and electricallycontacting it with said auxiliary contact.

A signal switch comprising an insulating base, a guide pin projectingtherefrom, a plunger slidable on said pin, a contact member *arried bysaid plunger, spring contact'arms carried by said base and having endswhich i normally press upon said plunger, an auxiliary contact mountedadjacent one of said arms, said plunger having a shoulder adapted tomove all of said contact arms away from said contact member and adaptedto force one of said arms into engagement with said auxiliary contactafter said arms have been moved away from said contact member.

6., In a switch, an insulating base, a stationary guide pin projectingtherefrom, a spring arm contact carried by said base at one side of saidpin, a stationary contact adjacent said arm, a. plunger reciproca-ble onsaid pin, a contact carried by said plunger and adapted to engage saidspring arm contact and a flange carried by said plunger and adapted toengage said arm contact and force it against said stationary contact.

7. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a guide pin projectingforwardly therefrom, a U-shaped frame having side bars secured to saidbase, a face plate at the opposite end of said frame, a contact carryingplunger slidable upon said pin and having anoperator extending throughsaid face plate and a conical spring having its large end pressingagainst said face plate and its small end pressing against said plunger.L

8. In a switch, an insulating base, a central terminal and guide, aplurality of li ht contacts, a main movable contact mem or forconnecting said light contacts, an auxiliary lateral buzzer contact, oneof saidlight contacts being laterally movable away from said movablecontact and-connected to said central terminal and means for moving saidmovable member on said guide toward said light contacts and for movingsaid laterally movable contact awayfrom said main movable contact memberand into engagement with said buzzer contact.

9. I11 an electric switch, an insulating base, a guide pin projectingtherefrom, a

spring arm contact secured to one side of said base, a stationarycontact adjacent said spring arm contact, a plunger reciprocable on saidguide pin, a contact member carried by said plunger and adapted toengage such springal'lll contact, and a projecting flange carried bysaid plunger for engaging said spring arm contact and movlng it awayfrom the co-acting contact on said plunger and into electricalengagementwith said stationary contact.

10. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a guide embedded in saidbase and having one end projecting therefrom and a binding screw at theopposite end, a spring arm contact secured to oneside of said base andhaving a binding screw accessible at the side, a plunger guided on saidpin and having a contact for engagement with said spring arm contact, anouter buzzer contact base, spring contact fingers pro ecting from saidbase towards said face plate, a plunger having a contact reci rocablebetween said contact fingers, a late plate co-acting' with said plungerand having its oppositeends guided in said side bars, a-spring operatingarm secured to said base adjacent one of the side bars and having oneend engagin said latch plate and a release arm secure on the outside ofthe other side bar and having an operating tip projecting through saidface plate.

JOSEPH O. CADIEUX.

